Chapter 8 Chemical Reactions and Equations

8.1 Describing Chemical Reactions

physical change: retain original properties, characteristics, etc…

appearance may change but not the properties

chemical change: produces one or more new substances with new properties,
characteristics, etc…
the new substance can longer be returned to its original form

physical change chemical change

melting ice rusting iron
tearing paper burning paper, wood, etc…
splitting wood cooking an egg
mixing a cake baking a cake

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances are converted into new
substances with different physical and chemical properties.

Clues to a Chemical Reaction

 Color change
 Formation of a solid (ppt)
 Formation of a gas (bubbles)
 Heat and/or flame is produced or absorbed
Exothermic: refers to a rxn where energy (as heat) flows from the system (HOT)
Endothermic: refers to a rxn where energy (as heat) flows into system (COLD)

DEMO

1. color change (sugar + H2SO4)

2. gas (chalk + H2SO4) (Zn + H2SO4)
3. ppt (HgNO3 + HCl)
4. Heat produced (Mg + flame) (Na + H2O)
5. Heat absorbed (Ba(OH)2 + NH4SCN)

During chemical reactions:

1) Atoms have the opportunity to obtain a complete set of valence electrons and
become more stable. Old bonds are broken, new bonds are formed and atoms
are REARRANGED.
2) Involves a rearrangement of the ways in which atoms are grouped. The atoms
form bonds to become stable (set of 8). New molecules usually result.
3) This process always involves energy
Chemical reactions are represented by sentences known as chemical equations. A chemical
equation describes exactly what happens in a chemical reaction. A chemical equation shows
compounds before a chemical reaction takes place on the left (reactants) and compounds formed
from the chemical reaction on the right (products).

Reactants  Products

The arrow in the equation is read as “yields” or “produces”

Chemical equations can be

1. Word Equations
Ex) calcium + oxygen  calcium oxide

2. Formula Equations (Chemical Equations): uses chemical symbols and formulas

Ex) 2Ca + O2  2CaO

Physical States and Symbols in a Reaction

In an equation the physical states of the reactants and the products are indicated by using
the following symbols;

Symbol Meaning
(s) Solid
(l) Liquid
(g) Gas
(aq) Dissolved in water (aqueous solution)
 yields
↔ reversible reaction
Δ, heat reactants are heated
Catalyst added to speed up a rxn

Homework
1. What is a chemical reaction?
2. When water boils on a stove does a chemical change or physical change take place?
3. Give four examples of evidence that suggests a chemical change is occurring.
4. When propane gas, C3H8, is burned with oxygen, the products are carbon dioxide and
water. Write an unbalanced formula equation including physical states for the reaction.
5. What does “Mn” above the arrow in a formula equation mean?
6. What symbol is used in a chemical equation to indicate “produces” or “yields”?
7. Solid silicon and solid magnesium chloride form when silicon tetrachloride gas reacts
with magnesium metal. Write a word equation and an unbalanced formula equation
including physical states.
8. Magnesium oxide forms from magnesium metal and oxygen gas. Write a word equation
and an unbalanced formula equation including physical states.
9. Phosphoric acid, H3PO4, is produced through the reaction between tetraphosphorus
decoxide and water. Write an unbalanced formula equation including physical states for
the reaction.
10. Aluminum reacts with oxygen to produce aluminum oxide. Write an unbalanced formula
equation including physical states for the reaction.
8.2 BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

Notice that in a chemical reaction, ATOMS ARE NEITHER CREATED NOR DESTROYED,
THEY ARE CONSERVED (Law of Conservation of Matter). The atoms are just rearranged
and connected differently. All atoms present in the reactants must be accounted for among the
products. In other words, there must be the same number of each type of atom on the product
side as on the reactant side of the arrow. This is called BALANCING THE CHEMICAL
EQUATION for the reaction. When balancing an equation the identities (formulas) of the
compounds must never be changed. In other words, the subscripts in the formula cannot be
changed, nor can atoms be added or subtracted from a formula. The correct way to balance is to
use COEFFICIENTS: the number in front of a chemical formula (must be simplest integers).

HINTS
1. Balance by inspection
2. Simplest whole number ratio of atoms
3. Save hydrogen and oxygen for last
4. Balance using polyatomic ions to save time
5. Odd-Even Technique (Use fractions to balance then multiply by 2).
6. 7 diatomic elements ONLY WHEN ALONE (H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2)

Ex) K(s) + H2O(l)  H2(g) + KOH(aq)

Ex) H2(g) + O2(g)  H2O(l)

Ex) NH3(g) + O2(g)  NO(g) + H2O(g)

Ex) SiO2(s) + HF(aq)  SiF4(g) + H2O(l)

More Examples

KClO3  KCl + O2

C2H5OH + O2  CO2 + H2O

Fe + H2O  Fe3O4 + H2

Cd(NO3)2 + H2S  CdS + HNO3

SnF4 + Cr(ClO3)3  Sn(ClO3)4 + CrF3

Al(OH)3 + H2SO4  Al2(SO4)3 + H2O

KNO3 + H2SO4 + Hg  K2SO4 + HgSO4 + H2O + NO

KMnO4 + HCl  KCl + MnCl2 + Cl2 + H2O

Balancing Equations Worksheet
 1 H2 + O2 => H2O

2 H3PO4 + KOH => K3PO4 + H2O

3 K + B2O3 => K2O + B

4 HCl + NaOH => NaCl + H2O

5 Na + NaNO3 => Na2O + N2

6 C + S8 => CS2

7 Na + O2 => Na2O2

8 N2 + O2 => N2O5

9 H3PO4 + Mg(OH)2 => Mg3(PO4)2 + H2O

10 NaOH + H2CO3 => Na2CO3 + H2O

11 KOH + HBr => KBr + H2O

12 H2 + O2 => H2O2

13 Na + O2 => Na2O

14 Al(OH)3 + H2CO3 => Al2(CO3)3 + H2O

15 Al + S8 => Al2S3

16 Cs + N2 => Cs3N
17 Mg + Cl2 => MgCl2

18 Rb + RbNO3 => Rb2O + N2

19 C6H6 + O2 => CO2 + H2O

20 N2 + H2 => NH3

21 C10H22 + O2 => CO2 + H2O

22 Al(OH)3 + HBr => AlBr3 + H2O

23 C4H10  + O2 => CO2 + H2O
DO EXAMPLES OF WRITING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
 1. Solid mercury II oxide decomposes to produce liquid mercury metal and gaseous
oxygen

2. Solid carbon reacts with gaseous oxygen to produce gaseous carbon dioxide

3. Solid zinc is added to an aqueous solution containing dissolved hydrogen chloride to

produce gaseous hydrogen that bubbles out of solution and zinc chloride that remains
dissolved in water

Write the formula equation for the following reactions and balance:

1. Ammonia (NH3) reacts with hydrogen chloride to form ammonium chloride.

2. When heated, calcium carbonate decomposes to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.

3. Barium oxide reacts with water to form barium hydroxide.

4. Zinc reacts with copper (II) nitrate to form zinc nitrate and copper.

5. When heated, calcium sulfite decomposes to form calcium oxide and sulfur dioxide.

6. Iron reacts with sulfuric acid to form iron (II) sulfate and hydrogen gas.

7. Manganese (II) iodide decomposes when exposed to light to form manganese and iodine.

8. Lead (II) acetate reacts with zinc to produce zinc acetate and lead.

TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Combustion Reactions
A combustion reaction is a reaction of a carbon-based compound (Hydrocarbon) with oxygen.
Carbon-based cmpd + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water

Carbon-based cmpd + O2  CO2 + H2O

Ex) C3H8(g) + 5O2(g)  3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)

Ex) CH3CH2OH(l) + 3O2(g)  2CO2(g) + 3H2O(g)

Synthesis Reactions (Composition Reactions)

Two or more substances combine to form a single more complex substance.

Element or compound + element or compound  compound

A + X  AX

Ex) Fe + S  FeS
Ex) H2O + SO3  H2SO4

Decomposition Reactions
One substance breaks down to form two or more simpler substances.

Compound  two or more elements or compounds

AX  A + X

Ex) 2H2O  2H2 + O2

Ex) 2KClO3  2KCl + 3O2

Six Types of Decomposition Reactions

Most decomposition reactions are endothermic, that is they are promoted by heat,
light or electricity.

1. Metallic carbonates, when heated, form metallic oxides and carbon dioxide.

MCO3  MO + CO2 (M = metal)

Ex) CaCO3  CaO + CO2

2. Metallic hydroxides, when heated, decompose into metallic oxides and water.

MOH  MO + H2O (M = metal)

Ex) Ca(OH)2  CaO + H2O

3. Metallic chlorates, when heated, decompose into metallic chlorides and

oxygen.
 MClO3  MCl + O2 (M = metal)

Ex) 2KClO3  2KCl + 3O2

4. Some acids, when heated, decompose into nonmetallic oxides and water.

Acid  H2O + NMO (NM = nonmetal)

Ex) H2CO3  H2O + CO2

Ex) H2SO3  H2O + SO2
Ex) H2SO4  H2O + SO3

5. Some oxides, when heated, decompose.

Ex) 2HgO  2Hg + O2

Ex) 2PbO2  2PbO + O2

6. An electric current produces some decomposition reactions.

The separation of a compound into simpler substances by the use of an
electric current is called electrolysis.

Ex) 2H2O + elec.  2H2 + O2

Ex) 2NaCl + elec.  2Na + Cl2

Single Replacement Reactions

One substance is replaced in its compound by another substance. Element reacts
with a compound to set free a different element and form a new compound.

Element + compound  element + compound

A + BX  AX + B
Y + BX  X + BY

Ex) Fe + CuSO4  FeSO4 + Cu

Ex) Cu + AgNO3  Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag

The possibility of a single replacement reaction taking place depends upon the
relative activities of the elements involved. Refer to the activity series chart
(handout or page 281 textbook) to complete reactions.

Rules for Completing Single Replacement Reactions

1. Locate the element on the reactant side and decide whether it is a metal or
nonmetal.
2. Decide what element in the compound it will replace.
3. Check the activity series chart.
a. if the element is above the one it is replacing a reaction will occur.
b. If the element is below the one it is replacing, no reaction
 4. Write correct formulas and balance.
Four Types of Single Replacement Reactions

1. Replacement of a metal in a compound by a more active metal.

Ex) Zn + CuSO4  ZnSO4 + Cu

Ex) Pb(C2H3O2)2 + Zn  Zn(C2H3O2)2 + Pb

2. Replacement of hydrogen in water by more active metals.

Ex) Ca + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 + H2

3. Replacement of hydrogen in acids by more active metals.

Ex) Zn + H2SO4  ZnSO4 + H2

4. Replacement of halogens.

Ex) Cl2 + 2KBr  2KCl + Br2

Ex) Cl2 + 2NaI  2NaCl + I2

Double Displacement Reactions (Ionic Exchange Reactions)

Ions in solution combine to form a new product
Two compounds react (usually in a water solution) to produce two new compounds.
For ionic reaction to occur a product must form that separates ions from the reaction
by creating a precipitate (solubility rules), an insoluble gas, or a new species.

compound AB + compound CD  compound AD + compound CB

AX + BY  AY + BX

Ex) NaCl + AgNO3  NaNO3 + AgCl(ppt)

Ex) Pb(NO3)2 + KI  PbI2(ppt) + KNO3

Ex) Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4  2HOH + CaSO4

Some chemical reactions do not fit nicely into one of the four categories of chemical reactions.
This different class of reactions is called REDOX reactions, which will be discussed, in later
chapters.

Ex) C2H5OH + 3O2  2CO2 + 3H2O

Chapter 8 Reaction Prediction

For each of the following equations:
a) Identify the type of reaction.
b) Complete the equation with words.
c) Change the words into correct formulas.
d) Correctly balance the equation.
1) Aluminum + hydrochloric acid 

2) Sodium + chlorine 

3) Magnesium + zinc nitrate 

4) Mercury + oxygen 

5) Calcium hydroxide (heated) 

6) Zinc chloride + hydrogen sulfide 

7) Sodium sulfate + barium chloride 

8) Zinc carbonate (heated) 

9) Water (electrolyzed) 

10) Potassium chlorate (heated) 

11) Mercury + nitric acid 

12) Fluorine + potassium bromide 

13) Lithium + bromine 

14) Potassium sulfide + iron (II) nitrate 

15) Calcium chloride + ammonium hydroxide 

8.4 Writing Net Ionic Equations
 • Ionic compounds dissolve in water
KI(aq)  K+ (aq) + I- (aq)

Pb(NO3)2(aq)  Pb2+(aq) + 2NO31-(aq)

• Reaction between KI and Pb(NO3)2

2KI(aq) + Pb(NO3)2(aq) ® PbI2(s) + 2KNO3(aq)

• Total Ionic Equation

2K+ (aq) + 2I– (aq) + Pb2+ (aq) + 2NO31- (aq) ® PbI2(aq) + 2K+ (aq) + 2NO31-(aq)

• Spectator ions remain unchanged in the solution as aqueous ions. They do not react.
CANCEL THEM OUT
2K+ (aq) + 2I– (aq) + Pb2+ (aq) + 2NO31- (aq) ® PbI2(aq) + 2K+ (aq) + 2NO31-(aq)

• The net ionic equation is the chemical equation that shows only the net change.
2I–(aq) + Pb2+ (aq) ® PbI2(s)

DO MORE EXAMPLES
potassium sulfate and barium nitrate
sodium carbonate and calcium chloride

Section 8.4 Net Ionic Equations

 Attached worksheet

Practice Problems on Net Ionic Equations:

Show the total ionic and net ionic forms of the following equations. If all species are
spectator ions, please indicate that no reaction takes place. Note! You need to make sure
the original equation is balanced before proceeding! A set of solubility rules are given at
the end of this document.

1. AgNO3 (aq) + KCl (aq) ® AgCl (s) + KNO3 (aq)

2. Mg(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) ® MgCO3 (s) + NaNO3 (aq)

3. strontium bromide (aq) + potassium sulfate (aq) ® strontium sulfate (s)

+ potassium bromide (aq)

4. manganese(II) chloride (aq) + ammonium carbonate (aq) ®

manganese(II) carbonate (s) + ammonium chloride (aq)

5. chromium(III) nitrate (aq) + iron(II) sulfate (aq) ® chromium(III) sulfate (aq)

+ iron(II) nitrate (aq)

Please complete the following reactions, and show the total ionic and net ionic forms of the
equation:

6. K3PO4 (aq) + Al(NO3)3 (aq) ®

7. BeI2 (aq) + Cu2SO4 (aq) ®

8. Ni(NO3)3 (aq) + KBr (aq) ®

9. cobalt(III) bromide + potassium sulfide ®

10. barium nitrate + ammonium phosphate ®

11. calcium hydroxide + iron(III) chloride ®

12. rubidium fluoride + copper(II) sulfate ®

Solubility Rules
1. All salts of Group IA, and ammonium are soluble.

2. All salts of nitrates, chlorates and acetates are soluble.

3. All salts of halides are soluble except those of silver(I), copper(I), lead(II), and
mercury(I).

4. All salts of sulfate are soluble except for barium sulfate, lead(II) sulfate, and strontium
sulfate.

5. All salts of carbonate, phosphate and sulfite are insoluble, except for those of group IA
and ammonium.

6. All oxides and hydroxides are insoluble except for those of group IA, calcium,
strontium and barium.

7. All salts of sulfides and insoluble except for those of Group IA and IIA elements and of
ammonium.